Unemployment: Unintended Consequences - Travel Opportunities

Sometimes you just have to act. Where travel is concerned, if you don't act quickly, you may lose out on an opportunity for a bargain priced trip and all the fun that goes along with it.

This spring, my dear friend and I were both unemployed, frustrated by the lack of interesting jobs in our respective fields and each had a little bit of money that we could devote to travel. We started researching opportunities and found an incredible deal on a cruise to the Baltic and Scandinavia that was just too good to ignore.

We went back and forth about making the commitment and finally decided that we would do it if we could each use our airline miles and get business class fares on flights that worked on our schedules (which at that point were pretty flexible since we weren't working). Remarkably, we got the flights and business class accommodations we wanted with miles to spare so we kept our promises and made the commitment. We booked a 10-day cruise beginning and ending in Copenhagen with a double room and a large balcony on one of the upper levels of a huge ship. We were going on a trip.

We both admit now that we had tiny twinges of buyers remorse immediately after making our payment and debiting our airline mile accounts. But, that lasted only a few minutes. From then on, between time spent hunting for jobs, we had a wonderful time researching each port and making long lists of places to hit. I made excel spreadsheets for most of the ports with museums and sites and their respective hours of operation, costs and other details. We were organized.

We booked this trip about a month in advance so we did not have the usual amount of planning time. Honestly, that was a good thing. We would have otherwise over-planned and panicked that were were doing something so impractical when unemployed.

We had the hardest times telling our respective Mothers who are both frugal and practical and thought we were nuts. But they didn't make us feel too bad. Friends were saluting our bravery given the economy and our situations and encouraged us and wished us well.

We vowed not to buy gifts or souvenirs and to watch out for our spending. We have traveled together before and although I am the worst, we can both splurge when it comes to buying (ask us about buying rugs in Turkey). But, we remained true to our vows and did not buy unnecessary items.

Of all the destinations, my interest was mainly in St. Petersburg, Russia, in particular the Catherine Palace and the Hermitage, and I was not disappointed and was so glad we had two days there. There were ports I wasn't especially interested in - Tallinn, Estonia and Gdansk, Poland - but I enjoyed the brief stops.

A cruise does not afford the luxury of getting to know the countries or the people or even the food since you dine primarily on the ship. With daytime stops, usually 8:00 a.m. until about 4:00 p.m., it was only possible to hit the highlights of the ports of call. We got a taste of Oslo, Helsinki and Stockholm.

All the Scandinavian cities were beautiful, with interesting museums, incredible water views and beautiful people. They were also very expensive. We longed to stay and were sad each time we returned to the ship. The weather was spectacular, the air was crisp and the routes in and out of the ports were filled with gorgeous scenery. We were thrilled to have a balcony and got accustomed to having room service on our perch for the departures and enjoyed magnificent late-night sunsets and early sunrises.

The place we got to know best was Copenhagen, after spending three nights and four days there. It is a beautiful city, full of history, with very accessible museums, castles and public buildings. The people are extremely hospitable and speak English. There is an energetic vibrancy about the place that is probably due to the healthy, young-looking people who walk and ride bicycles everywhere. The public transportation system is simple to navigate. By the end of the trip, we felt we knew Copenhagen pretty well, and had a glimpse into the lives of the Danish people and their fantastic city.

The last day, we visited Tivoli. It had been more than 30 years since my previous visit. Few things had changed. It was still beautiful, with lively music, flowering gardens, and beautifully painted carousels. Everything was much as it had been except the cost, of course. One change was the robot arm prize machine that previously offered trinkets and now has IPods!

In the end, we spent a little more than we had budgeted, in part because the dollar was so devalued. We paid in advance for many things, kept our credit cards only for essentials and used cash where possible.

I am so glad I wasn't afraid to be a little bit spontaneous and just a little bit frivolous. And I am pleased to have something that registers high on the fun scale for this period of uncertainty.

You never know what is around the corner and sometimes you just have to live a little. I certainly don't regret the decision and I know I would jump at the chance to go back to Scandinavia again.

Photos taken in Copenhagen

Unemployment: Unintended Consequences - Two Walks in the Park

When I commuted to a job five days a week, Saturday mornings were devoted to the same errands every week - going to the bank, post office, dry cleaners, and grocery store. A rare Friday off was either spent traveling or checking off more things on my to-do list. Things are different now. I just spent two days at Great Falls Park, Virginia!

Yesterday, my friend and I decided to hike in Great Falls Park, Virginia. They have a nice visitor's center where helpful staff mapped out a 4-mile hike for us. It was very dark out, although early afternoon, and soon after we began our hike, thunder rolled and the skies darkened. Then came the rain.

We laughed at each other because we looked ridiculous as our clothes hung lopsided with the weight of the water. We were soaked. We trudged on for a while, but then it became slippery and the puddles became streams. It was fun, but not quite the fun we had intended.

We saw a beautiful blue heron on the Potomac, but most of the other wildlife took cover from the downpour and we did the same.

A $5 park admission is good for three days, so this morning I went back with another friend. This time I took umbrellas in my backpack and wore clothes that would not be quite as heavy when drenched.

Surely due to my foresight, we did not have any rain!

We saw a mother deer and her two babies. We saw all three marvelous views of the falls from lookouts high above the Potomac.

As we ventured down the shady, wooded trail, we heard a loud noise that sounded like someone hammering. I got a big smile on my face when I realized it had to be a woodpecker close by - and it must be a big one.

I put my hand on the next tree and felt the vibrations and we knew it was the one that he was hammering. We figured he was inside the tree and spotted a large hole, probably 30 feet up the tree, where he must have entered.

My friend knocked on the tree, in a cadence similar to the woodpecker's, and I soon saw a red head peeking out the other side of the tree - there were two holes! He definitely was concerned about his territory and seemed puzzled as my friend knocked on the tree again. This happened a few more times and then he gave up, assuming there was an invisible intruder that might mean danger and he pulled himself out of the hole and flew off. It was thrilling to watch.

We saw wildflowers and huge boulders in interesting shapes and heard the late summer noises of the forest insects and birds. It was a nice visit and well worth the trip.

I appreciate having the freedom to enjoy Fridays and Saturdays doing things that have more lasting meaning than running errands! I know these days are numbered and I want to make the most of them. I might just go back to the park tomorrow since my ticket is good for three days!

One Toss, No Loss - Making Simple Decisions

I carry a silver dollar in my purse for the sole purpose of making decisions. I don't remember what exactly prompted me to do this, but I always have one with me. Mine was a gift from my brother; his gift has saved me countless hours of indecision.

Quite simply, the purpose of the coin is to neutralize the decision process and free my mind for other things.

If I can't decide on a restaurant, I toss the coin. If I am torn between two menu items in a restaurant, I bring out my silver dollar. The only rule is that you must live with whatever the coin decides.

The beauty of this system is that no one is at fault and you get on with it. I have pulled the coin out in meetings when people are arguing and it is clear that there are two good options. The coin decides and then the meeting will not last all day.

Usually, when I am at a decision point with two simple choices, neither of them can be bad, simply different. Friends and colleagues generally accept the toss because there is no favoritism and it takes away the fear of making a mistake.

I have given silver dollars as shower gifts, graduation gifts and even as wedding gifts. The coin is perfect for a young couple just starting out. They are bound to have arguments about whether the chair should face this way or that or any number of non life-altering decisions that just require you to do something and move on.

Medical problems, serious relationship issues, and anything with major consequences should be taken up in prayer and with a professional. But for the little things, try carrying a silver dollar.

It will lighten your load because you know that you can move on to more important things after a simple toss.

Unemployment: Unintended Consequences - A Gift of Time

I love living in the National Capital Area. Washington is incredibly rich with everything that feeds me mentally and spiritually except, temporarily, employment. After living here for some 30 years, however, I tend to take things for granted and I know to avoid certain hot spots because they will be jam-packed with tourists.

But this is the time of year to enjoy my favorite museums. This week and next, the subway will not be crowded and the museums will be nearly empty.

Today I met a friend for lunch at the Pavilion Cafe at the National Gallery of Art Sculpture Garden, located just West of the National Gallery of Art. There was no line. The food was fresh and tasty and we sat outdoors in a pleasant, shady spot where we could see the beautiful flowers and talk. It was positively refreshing, despite the heat. The photograph of the hibiscus was taken today.

I was to pick up my car from the dealership after lunch. During the routine servicing, they found a problem. I suddenly had two hours to kill while they fixed it.

This was a huge gift that, when I was working, would have caused me much frustration. But today, it was luxury and I was in the middle of the best place I could be to have that happen. I decided to make the most of it.

I made a dash through the West Wing of the National Gallery of Art. I love the Italian sculptures and there is a nice exhibit of works of Tullio Lombardo, 1455-1532, a Venetian Renaissance Sculptor. It showcases a few of his more portable high relief marble carvings ), which includes lovers, saints and heroes. It was heavenly. Cool, uncrowded and magnificently presented. See the website for more information: http://www.nga.gov/press/exh/2864/index.shtm.

With a little more time remaining, I crossed the street to the National Archives. I am embarrassed to admit that I have not been there since 1973. I always steer visitors there, but because I knew the lines were always long, I did not go myself. Today there were no lines.

The presentation of the Declaration of Independence in the rotunda of the building is impressive. It calmed me, reinforced my faith in the wisdom of the Founding Fathers and the backbone of our great country and made me so proud that my relatives were part of the American Revolution. I was also impressed by how respectful all of the visitors were. People spoke in whispers, possibly encouraged by the dim lighting, and filed very slowly by each of the panels. One of the children looked at his Mother as she stood in front of the Declaration of Independence and said "are you crying Mom?" "Yes," she said. "This is important."

I am so grateful for the gift of a little extra time today, and that I used it wisely. It was a good day and one that I will remember for a long time. I also want to spend more time in DC before Labor Day so that I can enjoy the peace and quiet of Washington at the end of summer.

Burned out on Unnatural Beeps, Dings and Chimes

This time of year, I love the sounds of nature. All day and all night, I hear the insect sounds that proclaim the glory and wonder of the last lazy days of summer. However, I find the beeps, dings and chimes of electronics are more annoying to me. Do you suppose that the inventors of these artificial noises were trying to imitate the sounds of the end of summer?

My coffee pot makes 3 high pitched beeps every morning when it has finished brewing---like I don't know that it is finished brewing? It makes more beeps when it automatically shuts itself off after 2 hours. By then, I really don't care to recognize its existence.

The seatbelt buzzer in my car is funny. It clearly wasn't calibrated for the average weight American because it thinks my gym bag is a person. When I pull away from the gym with the bag on the seat, it starts with the gentle beeping that accelerates to a higher pitched warning and finally sounds like the noises right before they say "blast off" for the space shuttles. My bag weighs less than 20 pounds. No humans of that weight sit in the front seat.

Last week in Florida I rented a car that I really enjoyed driving but it had the flashing light-honk-beep combination with the remote lock function. Who needs that much acknowledgement that they have simply locked the car? It discouraged me from locking the car.

When I was selecting my new refrigerator, the salesman pointed out that it had an alarm on it. I jokingly asked if that meant it made rude comments to you, or pig noises, when you needed to lose weight. He corrected me and didn't find my comment particularly funny. Since then I have left the door open dozens of times only to have the loud beeping remind me to close it. When I have it open on purpose - to fill it with groceries or trying to clean it out - it still beeps but at least it has a disabling function. Most of the beeps in my life do not. I wish the alarm would sound when I reach in for something I should not eat.

The microwave would beep into the next century if not opened when it finishes a job. It rarely works more than a minute or two at a time, not long enough to get any distance away from it. So why all the noise?

When I use the transponder/EZ Pass at most toll boths, there is a beep when you go through. My Mother's hearing loss restricts her from hearing it. In Florida I think a lot of people don't hear it. There are deaf drivers but no blind drivers; everyone can see the stop/go light change, even if they are color blind. Isn't the light enough?

I started thinking about this topic yesterday. Last evening I invited a friend over for dinner. As we sat on the deck and it grew darker, the night noises expanded with the darkness. This time of year, it is amazing how many natural noises we hear. They drown out the hum of the traffic or the clacking of the metro running above ground more than a mile away. We were blessed with the appearance of what I now know is a "false katydid" on the screen. I wasn't sure what it was and examined it. When left alone, it finally heard another katydid and then it started talking. We enjoyed its chatter. Later, one followed us indoors and I gently let it back outside.

This morning when the coffee maker finished brewing and made its five beeps, I heard an echo. Another katydid had gotten inside and was answering the coffee pot with its chatter. Now when I hear the coffee pot beep in the morning, I will think of the katydid and the other night noises of late summer. It's a wonderful time of year. I am going to focus on the natural noises.

If you want to know more about singing insects, visit this University of Florida site: http://www.entnemdept.ufl.edu/walker/buzz/index.htm I found it to be an interesting resource. It helped me to identify my false katydid. Thank you to Tom Walker of the Department of Entomology & Nematology for the photograph.

Unemployment: Unintended Consequences 2

One of the unexpected pleasures of having this time away from work is that I have been able to spend more time outdoors in my garden. It is a joyful place and every little thing I do brings rewards.

The pond is one of my favorite parts of the garden. It has a small waterfall that helps block out the sounds of the neighborhood and enhances the tranquility. There is a wooden bench beside it and now the plants have matured and it looks like it has always been there. Sometimes I sit on the bench and let my mind wander as I watch the activity of the pond life.

A good garden requires lots of love and must be fed. I compost all of the kitchen plant and vegetable matter, continuously filling the two huge black compost bins and working the compost into the earth. For Mother’s Day, my sons built me beautiful cedar raised beds for herbs and vegetables. We filled them with organic soil, compost from our bins and cow manure. I planted vegetables and herbs and every day spend a little bit of time weeding and watering and tending to these special plants.

Eventually the tomato plants began to flower and little green tomatoes appeared every where. Tiny beans appeared and peppers and okra flowered. They grew with every feeding of compost and cow manure. It was thrilling to see the results.

Finally, it was time to harvest the first crop of beans. It yielded 10 beans. We had five people at the dinner table that night and everyone was allotted two beans. I served them with a reverence that was perhaps undeserving but everyone tried to be enthusiastic although there were some snickers. Fortunately there were other more substantial courses.

Soon after, the tomatoes began to turn red and I marveled at the changes every day. Finally, I was able to pick a few and enjoy them. There were hundreds of tomatoes on the plants and surely, I thought, they would ripen gradually so that the crop would last for many weeks.

Then one day I noticed that a tomato had been violated with a huge gash torn through its crimson flesh. I gasped in horror and looked around for the culprit who had by then vanished. Daily, I noticed more gashes on other fruit. I left the damaged goods so that the perpetrator could claim his original victim rather than choose a new one. That tactic did not work. Then, I found 4 beautiful red tomatoes, partially eaten, underneath a bush. I must have startled the thieves who dropped the goods en route to their hiding place. Fruit continued to disappear.

I tried picking tomatoes before they were ripe. Soon I found green ones on the ground around the plants and I noticed that the leaves of the tall plants were shredded...presumably by the miserable little feet connected to the mouths that were eating my tomatoes.

Today I took inventory and one plant has no more fruit. Most of the tomatoes are missing off of the other plants as well. Tomato season should last a while longer, but mine has been cut short by varmints.

I have enjoyed my tomatoes. I’m annoyed at the thieves. But there are few more tomatoes and they don’t eat the beans or the hot peppers or the okra. And the herbs will last far into fall. Maybe it’s the peaceful sound of water falling in the pond that keeps me from losing my temper over this, or just knowing that this has been a special time and an unusual opportunity to appreciate nature in many forms.

Unemployment: Unintended Consequences

Note: I have been unemployed since January 20. It is not all bad. In fact, there have been some precious, wonderful moments during this period as I try to find the perfect fit for me, work into doing some consulting in the interim and weigh my options. But there have been unexpected consequences of unemployment that I was not prepared for.

Lately, I have been annoyed every morning at dog walking time. My job loss, however indirectly, has resulted in a profound shortage of the essential plastic poop bags for the morning walk.

Once I faced the reality of unemployment, a few months into the year, I started cutting back on expenses. Reluctantly, I gave up The Wall Street Journal (great plastic poop bags), then The New York Times (also with great plastic poop bags), except for the Sunday edition. What remains is one poop bag a day from The Washington Post. It’s an equally good poop bag, but one bag is inadequate for the production of an 11 year old lab. I need three bags a day and I only get one newspaper.

I have turned to plastic grocery bags, when I can get them, out of desperation. But I have very few of them because I have reusable bags. And, the grocery store bags get little holes in them, clearly defeating the purpose of using them for poop bags. If I wanted poop on my hands, I would not have this problem in the first place.

Now, when friends come over and bring things in plastic bags, I thank them profusely. I cherish each plastic bag like a gift from heaven, sometimes to their annoyance as I ignore the gift or food inside in my excitement about getting another poop bag. Each new addition is quickly added to the stash in the closet, ready for the next day’s deposit.

It may sound trivial, but it is an unintended consequence that causes a lot of extra stress in my morning routine. It’s the little things that get you down. The symbolism is astonishing. Literally, these are poopy times.

This is the first in what I envision will be a long list of unintended consequences of unemployment. Stay tuned. Tomorrow I will add something new. Do you have any additions?

Update --- This posting has resulted in an outpouring of offers of newspaper bags. I have a good supply now and do not need any more.  Thank you.